(Newser)
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International Criminal Court prosecutors are dropping their crimes against humanity case against Kenyan Cabinet secretary Francis Muthaura, it announced today, after a key witness admitted lying in his incriminating testimony. Muthaura was accused, along with now-president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, of murder, rape, and more for allegedly helping to orchestrate the violence that broke out after Kenya's last election. "We do not feel that we have a reasonable prospect of conviction and therefore withdraw the charges against him," prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told judges.

Witnesses in the case have either "been killed or have died since those events and other witnesses refuse to speak with the prosecution." She stressed however, that Kenyatta isn't off the hook, saying that prosecutors have more evidence against him, and that his case should proceed. Muthaura, who was sitting in court, showed no emotion as Bensouda read her statement. The announcement is an unprecedented admission of failure by prosecutors and the first time in the 10-year-old court's history that they have dropped a case so close to trial.